Vampires, ghosts, head-tilts and donuts. It can only be the Monogatari Series! Based on a series of light novels by Nisioisn, the Monogatari series really boomed in popularity after Studio Shaft adapted the novels into anime. The Monogatari series follows highschooler, Koyomi Araragi, who, during Spring Break, had a fateful encounter with a vampire. Throughout the series, Araragi discovers several of his classmates are also struggling with their own personal issues, which are often tied to some kind of supernatural phenomenon or apparition.
This is definitely not a show that will be to everyone’s tastes however. It is not so much plot-driven, and instead focuses almost entirely on the characters themselves, which leads to a very dialogue heavy show.
What makes the Monogatari series so unique is the way in which the series is laid out. Each season is released non-chronologically, with each new entry jumping back and forth between points in time. But thats not all! The english translation for “monogatari” means stories, and that’s exactly what it is, a series of short stories that are woven together. Each of the individual anime releases follows one particular story, or is several of them grouped together. Each of these stories fit together and make up Monogatari’s three “Seasons”.
Bakemonogatari
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TV, 2009, 15 eps Me:- Author:9
Bakemonogatari was the very first one that was released, and should be the one that is watched first. While it may be a tad confusing at first, as you are effectively jumping midway into the story, Bake excels at introducing the world, and the main cast of characters.
Kizumonogatari I: Tekketsu-hen
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Movie, 2016, 1 ep Me:- Author:9
Kizumonogatari is a trilogy of movies, and are chronologically the first entry in the series, acting as a flashback elaborating on some of the plot threads introduced in Bakemonogatari.
This one’s placement on the watch order is a heavily debated one. The Kizu light novel was released directly after Bakemonogatari, however the anime adaptations were delayed for multiple reasons and came out alongside the third and final Season’s entries, specifically between Koyomimonogatari and Owarimonogatari Part 2. The author has also stated himself, that as it is a prequel, its a viable way to watch Kizu first before anything else. I disagree with that though, as the style of the movies is quite different to the rest of the series, and that can throw people off if they were to watch them first.
Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu-hen
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Movie, 2016, 1 ep Me:- Author:8
2nd Movie in the Kizumongatari trilogy.
Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen
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Movie, 2017, 1 ep Me:- Author:10
3rd and final Movie in the Kizumongatari trilogy.
Nisemonogatari
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TV, 2012, 11 eps Me:- Author:8
Set a month after Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari has 11 episodes split over two arcs, Karen Bee and Tsukihi Phoenix. This time the focus is on Koyomi’s two younger sisters as they come under threat by con artists, supernatural specialists, and their brother with a toothbrush.
Nekomonogatari: Kuro
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TV Special, 2012, 4 eps Me:- Author:9
Nekomonogatari: Kuro is shorter at only 4 episodes long, and covers only a single arc, Tsubasa Family. It details the events of Golden Week that were referenced in Bakemonogatari’s final arc. This should be the last one watched in the first season, as it sets up a lot of the first arc in the Second season, Tsubasa Tiger.
Monogatari Series: Second Season
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TV, 2013, 26 eps Me:- Author:10
The bulk of the Second Season is covered by…well, the 2nd season. Monogatari 2nd is the longest entry in the series with 26 episodes, mostly focusing on the character development of Shinobu, Mayoi and Nadeko, though both Hanekawa and Senjougahara also get arcs dedicated to them. Unlike previous entries with multiple arcs, 2nd season’s 5 arcs do not follow on from each other, and are told out of order like the series as a whole.
Hanamonogatari
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TV Special, 2014, 5 eps Me:- Author:8
The final entry in the Second season is Hanamonogatari. Similar to Kizumonogatari, this one is a bit of an oddity. Despite being chronologically the last of the stories, it is part of the second season. The original light novel for Hanamonogatari actually came between Second Seasons Mayoi Jiangshi and Nadeko Medusa arcs. For sake of ease though, it’s fine to watch it when the anime aired, which is right here after the full 2nd season. If you want the pure official order though, (which many would recommend abiding by) fit this arc in between episodes 10 & 11 of Second Season.
Tsukimonogatari
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TV Special, 2014, 4 eps Me:- Author:8
Kicking off the final season is the 4 episode long Tsukimonogatari. Set not long after the 2nd Season’s conclusion, this arc acts as a prologue to the final season, and has Yotsugi Ononoki as the focus. Yaay!
Koyomimonogatari
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ONA, 2016, 12 eps Me:- Author:8
Koyomimonogatari is a series of shorts, the episodes typically only lasting about 15 minutes. Each episode takes place at various points in the timeline and are mostly fun little side stories. I don’t recommend skipping over these though, as the final 2 episodes are vital to setting up the main storyline going forward.
Owarimonogatari
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TV, 2015, 12 eps Me:- Author:8
After the ending of Koyomimonogatari left us with nothing but questions, Owarimonogatari sets out to begin to answer them. Owari’s first season has 12 episodes and is mostly made up of arcs that are flashbacks, set roughly during the same time as Monogatari 2nd Season. The final episode links back up directly to Koyomimonogatari’s final episode.
Owarimonogatari 2nd Season
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TV Special, 2017, 7 eps Me:- Author:10
Set directly after Koyomimonogatari’s final episode, Owarimonogatari Season 2 consists of 3 arcs. This entry marks the end of the overarching storyline thats been building up throughout the Second and Third Seasons, bringing the story of Ougi Oshino to it’s conclusion.
Zoku Owarimonogatari
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TV, 2019, 6 eps Me:- Author:9
…And now we have the sequel to the end. Zoku Owarimonogatari consists of a single arc, Koyomi Reverse, in which Koyomi Araragi finds himself trapped in a mirror world inhabited by alternate versions of the people that he knows. While it isn’t a necessity to watch, as Owarimonogatari Season 2 wrapped everything up nicely, I can’t deny this was still a very enjoyable and worthwhile addition.
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ONA, 2024, 14 eps Me:- Author:-
Oh, you thought the series was over with the end? It's just getting started...
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ONA, 2024, 1 ep Me:- Author:-
Episode 6.5 of Off & Monster season.
